No permits needed for e-rickshaws, says Centre

Obtaining permits for operating in states was proving to be the biggest obstacle for e-carts and e-rickshaws, a senior road transport and highways ministry official said, adding that they can now operate pan-India.PTI | August 31, 2016, 06:44 IST

NEW DELHI: Removing legal hurdles in the way of running of e-rickshaws as last-mile connectivity, the transport ministry has exempted such vehicles from requiring permits for plying on roads.

Obtaining permits for operating in states was proving to be the biggest obstacle for e-carts and e-rickshaws, a senior road transport and highways ministry official said, adding that they can now operate pan-India.

"The central government hereby orders that the provisions of sub-section I of Section 66 of the said Act (Motor Vehicles Act, 1988) shall not apply to any transport vehicle of the category e-cart and e-rickshaw...for the purpose of carriage of goods and passengers with their personal luggage," according to a notification issued on Tuesday.

This sub-section requires that "no owner of a motor vehicle shall use or permit the use of the vehicle as a transport vehicle in any public place whether or not such vehicle is actually carrying any passenger or goods save in accordance with the conditions of a permit granted or countersigned by a regional or state transport authority."

The ministry has already set guidelines for e-rickshaws and allowed them to operate under the Act. However, many states were not following the guidelines .

As per the notification, e-rickshaws have been allowed to carry four passengers and 40 kg luggage while e-carts would transport goods up to 310 kg. The rules define e-rickshaw as a special purpose battery-operated vehicle 'having three wheels and intended to provide last mile connectivity to passengers'.